Using less than 10 real food ingredients and made all in one dish, this recipe comes together fast. Our Sweet Potato Chicken Bake with Broccoli is a simple and delicious recipe that makes a darn good and easy weeknight dinner. You’ll love the leftovers, too. They reheated very well and are an easy and health solution for the next day’s lunch.
a delicious weeknight meal
Sweet Potato Chicken Bake with Broccoli is a well-balanced, one-dish meal. It includes a healthy source of protein from the chicken, quality fats from the olive oil and nuts, and fiber-rich carbohydrates from the sweet potato, broccoli, and onion. Sweet Potato Broccoli Chicken Bake will be a sure-fire favorite for you and your family. We love to serve it in bowls topped with a sprinkle of fresh grated Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of lemon juice to really make the flavors pop.
Ingredients for Chicken Sweet Potato Bake with Broccoli
Calling for less than 10 ingredients, this recipe come together fast and with flavors that are loved by families everywhere. The sweet potatoes and dates add a touch of sweetness that complements the chicken and veggies perfectly.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs – we prefer boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe, but breasts will work great, too
- Broccoli florets – you can also cut up the broccoli stems
- Sweet potato – scrub them clean or peel them, then cut into ¼-½ inch cubes
- Red onion and garlic cloves – you’ll need a medium red onion and 2-3 garlic cloves (or 1 tablespoon minced garlic)
- Chopped dates – may substitute raisins or dried cranberries
- Olive oil or avocado oil
- Dried Italian seasoning – feel free to change up the seasonings. We like to change the flavors of this dish by adding a pinch of chili powder and cumin in place of the Italian seasoning
- Fine salt and black pepper
- Chopped pecans or walnuts (or both) – toast the nuts to bring out the crunch and flavors
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Shredded Parmesan or Manchego cheese – optional for garnishing, but delicious
- Lemon or lime wedges – a squeeze of citrus helps brighten all the other flavors
For the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below. All of our recipes include the nutrition information, listing kcals, protein, carbohydrates, cholesterol, fiber, sugar, sodium, total fat, and more per serving.
How to Make Sweet Potato Chicken Bake with Broccoli
Follow these quick steps to get this easy one-dish dinner on your table tonight:
- While the oven is preheating, in a 9×13 dish combine the chicken, broccoli, sweet potatoes, red onion, garlic, dates, oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Toss until everything is coated evenly with the oil and seasoning.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the foil, stir, and continue to roast for another 15-20 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender and chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Meanwhile, toast the nuts by placing a small skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the nuts to the skillet. Toss the nuts occasionally, cooking until the pecans and/or walnuts give off a nutty aroma, 4-7 minutes. Watch them carefully so they don’t burn. Remove the nuts from the heat.
- Sprinkle the nuts over the Sweet Potato Broccoli Chicken Bake just before serving. Serve and top with cheese and/or a squeeze of lemon juice or lime and garnish with fresh thyme leaves, if desired.
What Makes Sweet Potato Chicken Bake Healthy?
Not only is the recipe easy to make, it’s also incredibly wholesome. Below we highlight why we think this dish is so great from a nutritional aspect.
- Broccoli – is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. A half cup of cooked broccoli supplies 84% of the recommended daily value for immune-boosting vitamin C
- Sweet Potato – a top source of both soluble and insoluble fiber (great for digestion!), vitamins, and minerals. Beta-carotene, found abundantly in the orange varieties of sweet potatoes, is converted to vitamin A in your body, which may help improve eye health and also build a strong immune system
- Chicken – a healthy source of quality protein that you can count on providing you with lean, lasting energy, and essential nutrients like amino acids, niacin, selenium, and vitamin B6. Curious how to select the best chicken for you? Read this post for detailed info on what to look for on poultry labels
- Walnuts and olive oil – both are wonderful sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help promote healthy cholesterol levels and also provide antioxidants
How to meal prep this recipe
This sweet potato chicken recipe is make-ahead friendly. There are two ways you can prep this recipe ahead.
Prep the recipe entirely.
- After the chicken and veggie bakes comes out of the oven, allow it to cool and then transfer it to an airtight container, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, return the cooked ingredients to an oven-safe or microwave-safe dish. Add a little water or chicken broth, cover it with foil, and bake in a 350-degree preheated oven until hot, 6-8 minutes. Or, reheat portions (uncovered) in the microwave set at 70% power. Start with 2 minutes and add time as needed.
Prep the recipe up to the point of cooking to make for an easy weeknight meal.
- Pre-chop, slice, and mince the broccoli, sweet potato, onion, garlic. Store the veggies together in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Pre-cube the chicken; store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Chop the dates and toast the nuts. Store in separate containers.
- When it comes time to make this dinner, these steps taken ahead of time will make it all come together quickly and easily on a weeknight!
how to store leftovers of chicken and veggie bake
Store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat in an oven, place the cooked ingredients in an oven-safe dish. Add a little water or chicken broth, cover with foil, and bake in a 350-degree preheated oven until hot, 6-8 minutes.
- To reheat in a microwave, place a portion in a microwave-safe dish or bowl and reheat portions (uncovered) in the microwave set at 70% power. Start with 2 minutes and add time as needed.
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Sweet Potato Broccoli Chicken Bake
This delicious and healthy chicken and veggie recipe is a one-dish wonder! With a variety of textures, flavors, and nutrients, this well-loved recipe also make wonderful leftovers and is easy to clean up, too!
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- 5 cups broccoli florets (may also use the broccoli stems)
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled or scrubbed and cut into ¼–½ inch cubes (2-2 ½ cups)
- ½ medium red onion, sliced (⅔ cup)
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup chopped dates (may substitute raisins or dried cranberries)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons chopped pecans or walnuts (or a mix), toasted
- Lemon or lime wedge and/or shredded Parmesan (optional – omit for dairy-free and Whole30)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Mist a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray (may also use a round 10-inch baking dish or any 3-quart baking dish).
- In the dish, combine the chicken pieces, broccoli, sweet potatoes, red onion, garlic, dates, oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Toss until all ingredients are coated evenly with the oil and seasonings.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the foil, stir, and continue to bake (uncovered) until the sweet potatoes are tender and chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F, another 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toast the nuts by placing a small skillet over medium heat. Add the nuts to the skillet. Toast until the nuts are lightly browned and fragrant, stirring occasionally and watching carefully so they don’t burn, 4-7 minutes. Remove nuts from heat.
- Stir in or sprinkle the nuts over the Sweet Potato Broccoli Chicken Bake just before serving. Serve topped shredded cheese and a lemon wedge and garnish with fresh thyme leaves, if desired.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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Notes
Sheet Pan Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- On the sheet pan, combine the broccoli, sweet potato, onion, and garlic. Drizzle with oil, add seasonings, salt, and pepper; toss to coat. Spread ingredients in an even layer on the sheet pan, cover with foil, and bake 12 minutes.
- After 12 minutes, remove from oven, remove the foil, add the chicken, toss and replace the foil. Return to the oven for another 8 minutes. Remove from oven again, stir in the raisins and untoasted nuts, and return to oven (without foil) and bake until the chicken is cooked through and sweet potatoes are soft, another 8-10 minutes.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 355
- Fat: 13 g
- (Sat Fat: 2 g)
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Carbohydrate: 16 g
- (Fiber: 4 g
- Sugar: 12 g)
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
Dietary
Photo Credit: The photos in this blog post were taken by Rachel Cook of Half Acre House.
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Mary says
Not sure what I did wrong but mine was awfully soggy. I left out the raisins & nuts – didn’t think it would make too much difference but maybe that’s why. Still tasted pretty good with some tomato & basil-flavored feta. Trying the chicken fajita bake tonight, I love the healthy one-dish concept
Jessica Beacom says
Hi Mary,
I’m sorry to hear that your came out soggy – I’ve not had that happen before. What size dish/pan did you use? If your dish was too small the liquid that comes from the vegetables when they cook may not have been able to cook off. Alternatively, if you used the pan called for in the recipe your chicken may have had added salt water/solution (as many do to keep them tender even when overcooked) which would have caused the dish to be watery. Just a thought – hope that helps!
Mary says
I totally used the wrong dish! I don’t have a real casserole dish so I used a glass…thing. I’m not sure what to call it lol but I appreciate the response because I’m desperately trying to find healthy meals for health purposes! And as I said, it still tasted pretty good so if I can eliminate the sogginess then this one DEFINITELY goes in the rotation. As does the chicken fajita bake & the taco one – I love your site!!
Christine says
I have a 3 and a 1 year old that loved this! I did have to leave out 2 ingredients though. I think it would make it extra yummy. My husband hates onions and anything that they touch so I had to ditch them. I also left out the walnuts so they weren’t a choking hazard for my 1 year old. But it’s so simple and easy and it allows the natural flavors work together unlike some other casseroles that just cover up the ingredients with a cream soup.
Jessica Beacom says
Hi Christine,
Thanks for taking time to comment! So glad you loved our “no-cream-of-anything-soup” recipe even though you had to leave out the onions. You can sprinkle the walnuts on top of your serving after baking but those onions…they’re hard to replace. I don’t know how you do it – onions are like a food group for me!
Sheina Renée says
I made this today, with almonds in place of walnuts as that is what I had on hand. I did not include cheese due to lactose intolerance. I am usually a cheese lover and can have some hard cheeses but after having it with no cheese would leave it off every time. This is a DELICIOUS and easy recipe. I will DEFINITELY make it again!
Stacie Hassing says
SO happy to hear you loved this recipe! And we’re all about making modifications to use what you have on hand! 🙂
Julie says
I am planning on trying this tonight. I’d like to have some leftovers so I was considering making it in a 9 X 13 pan. Would you still use the same increments of chicken and broccoli or would you increase. I’m not sure what size casserole dish that you used. The only nuts I currently have in the house are slivered almonds.. will this work?
Thank you!
Jessica Beacom says
Hi Julie,
I would double the all of the ingredients if you’re using a 9×13 pan (the one pictured is about the same as a 9×9 pan).
Slivered almonds will be great. Enjoy!
BananaBirkLarsen says
This was surprisingly tasty, especially with the feta. I used toasted pine nuts and added some brussel sprouts that had reached the use-em-or-lose-em stage in my crisper. Only thing I’d do differently is brown my chicken thighs before dicing and brown the onions before mixing with the other veggies to add a bit more depth. I was thinking this would also be great with almonds as the nut and some ras el hanout in place of the herbs and maybe a different veggie (chard?) instead of the broccoli for a Moroccan twist. Thanks for the recipe and the inspiration!
Jessica Beacom says
Hi Chelsea,
Great suggestions! Browning is the meat and aromatics are great for adding depth to the dish when you have time, for sure. I love your suggestion of adding ras el hanout and almonds. Yum!